NICOLE'S REVIEW + Novel Nails #23: Storm Siren by Mary Weber

Title: Storm Siren

Author: Mary Weber

Format Acquired: Hardcover

Publication Date: August 19 2014

Publishing House:  Thomas Nelson/HarperCollins

ISBN: 9781401690342

Source of Copy: Purchased from Fully Booked

Summary: 

As a slave in the war-weary kingdom of Faelen, seventeen-year-old Nym isn't merely devoid of rights, her Elemental kind are only born male and always killed at birth - meaning, she shouldn't even exist.

Standing on the auction block beneath smoke-drenched mountains. Nym faces her fifteenth sell. But when her hood is removed and her storm-summoning killing curse revealed, Nym is snatched up by a court adivser and given a choice: be trained as the weapon Faelen needs to win the war or be killed.

Choosing the former, Nym is unleashed into a world of politics, bizarre parties, and rumors of an evil more sinister than she's being prepared to fight...not to mention the trainer whose dark secrets lie behind a mysterious ability to calm every lightning strike she summons.

But what if she doesn't want to be the weapon they've all been looking for?

        (Image and information courtesy of Goodreads; Summary lifted from actual book)

Review: 

Nym is a slave facing her fifteenth auction. Technically, she shouldn't even be alive since she's an Elemental and her kind are usually killed at birth - and are usually male. She's kind of an anomaly of sorts. But a slip-up at the latest auction has her catching the eye of a court adviser who seeks to hone her into a weapon to use in the war and Nym isn't sure if she can, or wants, to be the weapon they need.

I love this book. I like Nym and how she's, basically, a tortured girl who's got powers she can't control and carries around a whole lot of guilt in her heart. She copes through self-harm and I like how Weber tackled this subject in the book. I also like how Nym treats her disfigurement - she doesn't go around throwing pity parties for herself but accepts that that's what she has and just goes with it. I mean what's a disfigured hand compared to her powers which have killed people? Some tell her she's special but she just doesn't buy it, doesn't believe she is and wishes she weren't. 

I loved the romance too. How could I not? Eogan was just about perfect and I loved his relationship with Nym - kudos to the author for not letting the romance take over the story. Even if I wish there were more kissy scenes, I'm perfectly okay with the way Weber wrote this. 

Another reason I enjoyed the book was the prose. Weber's writing was so beautiful and lyrical, I couldn't help myself, I had to keep on reading. The world she built was amazing too with the magic and the steampunk-like elements in the story and the way she doesn't gloss over the hard stuff like slavery and Nym's self harm.

But the most amazing thing about this book? The way I got blindsided. You know how you're near the end of the book and everything's coming to a close and it all points towards a happy ending? Yeah. Then when you get to the end it's like BAM IN YO FACE. I never expected it an I had to reread a few times just to make sure I wasn't hallucinating. I'm not even kidding, I even checked to see if my book had missing pages. It was incredibly painful and I stared it it for a few seconds in open mouthed shock before cussing it out and rereading again.

Safe to say I am looking forward to the next book because I have this desperate, all consuming need to know what happened. WHAT HAPPENED???! And every time I see my copy of Storm Siren I end up feeling so frustrated so I legit need the next book. Looking for your next fantasy read? This. You need to pick Storm Siren.

Rating: 

"Novel Nails" is a feature of the blog that showcases nail art inspired by books and their covers. Nail art will be created by either Michelle or Nicole and will be featured alongside their reviews.

Just a quick announcement! I have finally caved and created a blog dedicated solely to my nail art. You'll find more pictures for the nail art set over there plus a list of all the book manicures I've ever done. Some don't get published on this blog. 

Hope you like this! Link to the nail blog below.

I drew out Nym on my nail by the way. It was tough but I did it.

More pics on my nail art blog. Novel Nails Designs.

                         

NICOLE'S REVIEW + Novel Nails #22: Snow Like Ashes by Sara Raasch

Title: Snow Like Ashes

Author: Sara Raasch

Format Acquired: Hardcover

Publication Date: October 14 2014

Publishing House:  Balzer + Bray

ISBN: 9780062286925

Source of Copy: eARC/Purchased from FullyBooked

Summary: 

Sixteen years ago the Kingdom of Winter was conquered and its citizens enslaved, leaving them without magic or a monarch. Now the Winterians' only hope for freedom is the eight survivors who managed to escape, and who have been waiting for an opportunity to steal back Winter's magic and rebuild the kingdom ever since.

Orphaned as an infant during Winter's defeat, Meira has lived her whole life as a refugee, raised by the Winterian's general, Sir. Training to be a warrior - and desperately in love with her best friend and future king, Mather - she would do anything to help Winter rise to power again.

So when scouts discover the location of the ancient locket that can restore their magic, Meira decides to go after it herself. Finally, she's scaling towers and fighting enemy soldiers just as she's always dreamed she would. But the mission doesn't go as planned, and Meira soon finds herself thrust into a world of evil magic and dangerous politics - and ultimately comes to realize that her destiny is not, never has been, her own.

        (Image and information courtesy of Goodreads; Summary lifted from actual book)

Review: 

Run, survive, repeat - that's all Meira's ever really known. Training to be a warrior to reclaim the lost Winter locket and help rescue her people and reclaim Winter to its former glory. When word reaches her of the locket's location she jumps at the chance to do something for her people. But a mission gone awry leads to a different destiny - something she could never have imagined. 

Snow Like Ashes came as a surprise. I started this book late last year, reached a couple of chapters in and quit it. I was in the midst of a crazy book slump (also known as the quarterlife crisis) and couldn't bring myself to read anything. Thankfully I managed to score an actual copy of the book and hooray! So. Good.

Meira is a strong character. Fierce and strong-willed. Which was probably why being stuck in camp drove her stir crazy. But I found her actions to be a little selfish sometimes - wanting to go on missions just so didn't go crazy in camp? She wasn't even any good with hand to hand combat. But I get it, I understood her need to prove herself to Sir and Mather but she could be a little rash. 

As for Mather, well, despite the summary claiming that Meira was desperately in love with him I just couldn't see it. I mean they could be really good friends but that's the extent of their relationship. The pretty boy I wanted to see Meira with though was Theron. Yes guys, there is a love triangle but I'm not complaining because in my eyes Mather doesn't stand a chance. Theron is the Cordellian prince and he fits Meira. He's stable and calm and he sees her eye to eye and their chemistry was just...mmmmmm. Yes please. Can I also add that he has a wonderful physique and wields weapons masterfully? Oh, Theron. 

Raasch does a good job with the world building, it gets a little confusing at first since there were eight kingdoms to keep track of but you get the hang of things soon enough and it's an enjoyable ride from there on out. The magic is a little difficult to understand, initially, but as the story progressed, I got a feel for how things worked. 

The ending was done beautifully, enough to give readers satisfaction but with room for more. Can more be scenes of Theron with his shirt off? 

Rating: 

"Novel Nails" is a feature of the blog that showcases nail art inspired by books and their covers. Nail art will be created by either Michelle or Nicole and will be featured alongside their reviews.

Just a quick announcement! I have finally caved and created a blog dedicated solely to my nail art. You'll find more pictures for the nail art set over there plus a list of all the book manicures I've ever done. Some don't get published on this blog. 

Hope you like this! Link to the nail blog below.

More pics plus details HERE.

                        

NICOLE'S REVIEW + Novel Nails #21: Queen of the Tearling by Erika Johansen

Title: Queen of the Tearling

Author: Erika Johansen

Format Acquired: Paperback

Publication Date: July 8 2014

Publishing House:  Harper

ISBN: 9780062328090

Source of Copy: Gifted by Sab

Summary: 

Young Kelsea Raleigh was raised in hiding after the death of her mother, Queen Elyssa, far from the intrigues of the royal Keep and in the care of two devoted servants who pledged their lives to protect her. Growing up in a cottage deep in the woods, Kelsea knows little of her kingdom's haunted past...or that its fate will soon rest in her hands.

Long ago, Kelsea's forefathers sailed away from a decaying world to establish a new land free of modern technology. Three hundred years later, this feudal society has divided into three fearful nation who pay duties to a fourth: the powerful Red Queen. Now, on Kelsea's nineteenth birthday, the tattered remains of the Queen's Guard - loyal soldiers who protect the throne - have appeared to escort the princess on a perilous journey to the capital to ascend to her rightful place as the new Queen of the Tearling.

Though born of royal blood and in possession of the Tear sapphire, a jewel of immense power and magic, Kelsea has never felt more uncertain of her ability to rule. But the shocking evil she discovers in the heart of her realm will precipitate an act of immense daring, throwing the kingdom into turmoil - and unleashing the Red Queen's vengeance. A cabal of enemies with an array of deadly weapons, from crimson-caped assassins to the darkest blood magic, plots to destroy her. But Kelsea is growing in strength and stealth, her steely resolve earning her loyal allies, including the Queen's Guard, led by the enigmatic Lazarus, and the intriguing outlaw known simply as "the Fetch".

Kelsea's quest to save her kingdom and meet her destiny has only just begun. Riddled with mysteries, betrayals and treacherous battles, Kelsea journey is a trial by fire that will either forge a legend...or destroy her.

        (Image and information courtesy of Goodreads; Summary lifted from actual book)

Review: 

I was hesitant to pick this book up mainly because of the reviews it got over on goodreads. People had a love or hate relationship with this book and it got me scared. So I need to take a moment and thank Sab for gifting me this book because I love it.  If you can get over the world building, which I will get into later, it's an interesting book and it helps that the men who make up Kelsea's guard are a bunch of hunks. 

On her nineteenth birthday, the men who comprise the Queen's Guard whisk Kelsea away from her quiet life in the forest and thrust her into the role of Queen - into politics and lies and deceit. Her first actions as monarch, though brave, incite the anger of the Red Queen and puts her kingdom into peril. Danger is around every corner and the fight for the survival of her people and her kingdom has just begun. Dodging attacks on her life and fearful magic, Kelsea has to find a way to secure the future of her kingdom and be the queen they need her to be.

One reason to love this book is Kelsea. She's an incredibly strong, good character (righter of wrongs, our Kelsea) but also very much relatable. In the book, people have a tendency to comment on her looks - she's plain-looking - and I wanted to give them a good slap because plain or beautiful, it was obvious that Kelsea had the guts and the resolve to maneuver through all the nasties that her uncle, who ruled while she was away, had done to her kingdom. She's intelligent and witty and that's what counts, because how is beauty supposed to rule a kingdom? 

Another point for this book is the lack of romance and abundance of possible romantic interests. Okay so maybe 'interests' isn't right, but when the men who make up the Queen's Guard are all incredibly fine specimens of the opposite sex, I couldn't resist. It also helps that they're pretty well nuanced and interesting characters. Lazarus, for example, whom Kelsea's makes captain of her guard. He's a fierce warrior and acts as a sort-of-but-not-quite father figure for Kelsea. Then there's the Fetch who is equally mysterious and fierce. He's got a vested interest in seeing Kelsea rule the Kingdom right for reasons unknown. It makes me a little suspicious. 

As for the world building it was, admittedly, a little strange. It's like a dystopia combined with historical fiction with magic for added flavor. They referenced J.K. Rowling's books! A little weird but truthfully, I found that I didn't mind at all but i can totally understand why people have a bone to pick with the worl building. I just hope that we get a little more backstory in the next book. It would be good to finally understand what actually happened that Kelsea's forefathers felt the need to establish a new world. 

I also enjoyed Johansen's writing. Loved how she plotted out the story, the twists and turns and secrets that just so happen to be everywhere. Don't people know it's not smart to keep secrets from the Queen? How is she expected to rule a kingdom and save it from its enemies when all the cards aren't on the table? 

This book is definitely heavier than other YA books, is it even YA? I would recommend it to older teens though since there is a lot of nasty that happens in this book. Lots of rape and violence and yeah. But I loved it and I seriously cannot wait for the next book. 

Rating: 

"Novel Nails" is a feature of the blog that showcases nail art inspired by books and their covers. Nail art will be created by either Michelle or Nicole and will be featured alongside their reviews.

Yaaaaas! Queen of the Tearling nails! This set just about drove me crazy. It was tough trying to draw on the castle. 

Nail polish used:

China Glaze Liquid Leather

The book.

Nails with the book. 

Drew the castle on the middle finger.

The thumb, I just added on a layer of glitter.

Closer look. 

                        

NICOLE'S REVIEW + Novel Nails #20: Winterspell by Claire Legrand

Title: Winterspell

Author: Claire Legrand

Format Acquired: Hardcover

Publication Date: September 30 2014

Publishing House:  Simon & Schuster

ISBN: 9781442465985

Source of Copy: Purchased from Fully Booked

Summary: 

New York City, 1899, Clara Stole, the mayor's ever-perfect daughter, leads a double life. Since her mother's murder, she has secretly trained in self-defense with the mysterious Drosselmeyer.

Then, on Christmas Eve, disaster strikes.

Her home is destroyed, and her father is abducted - by beings distinctly not human. To find him, Clara journeys to the war-ravaged land of Cane. Her only companion is the dethroned prince Nicholas, bound by a wicked curse. If they're to surive Clara has no choice but to trust him, but his haunted eyes burn with secrets - and a need she can't define. With the dangerous, seductive fairy queen Anise hunting them, Clara soon realizes she won't leave Cane unscathed - if she leaves at all.

        (Image and information courtesy of Goodreads; Summary lifted from actual book)

Review:

I know this book got a lot of rather low ratings over on goodreads, and while normally that would dissuade me from buying a book I was feeling rather adventurous and thought why the hell not? Luckily I didn't hate the book and that little issue with the statue that a lot of people commented on? I found that I was oddly okay with it. It was a good looking statue.

It's not easy leading a double life. On one hand Clara is the mayor's daughter; prim, proper and perfect as can be on the other she's training to fight under the odd Drosselmeyer's tutelage. Little does she know that she's going to be putting all the skills she's learned to the test when strange creatures enter her home and abduct her father on Christmas eve forcing her to put her trust in Nicholas as they travel to the lands of Cane to save her father.

Clara starts of a little wimpy but it was great to see her grow as a character as the book progressed. I also liked how Legrand explored Clara's sexuality in the book because while it's obvious that she had a thing for Nicholas I'm also pretty sure she was into Anise which makes her bisexual. I haven't seen a lot of LGBT characters in fantasy so this was a surprise.

Okay, so about that statue issue. Clara might have had a thing going on for a good looking statue and maybe that might be uncomfortable for people because it is an inanimate object, I couldn't blame her. As I said, dude was hunky and turned out to be Nicholas. No big surprise there. His relationship with Clara was kind of rocky at first and he might be a little crazy but thank goodness he managed to fix himself and their relationship.

I also liked how deliciously dark the book actually was. There's a lot of misery and death and depravity and a whole bunch of sick and crazy people in it. Also drugs and a faery war. And the world building was quite detailed and highly imaginative. 

Truthfully, I'm not that familiar with the Nutcracker story so I don't know how true this stayed to the original and what aspects of it Legrand kept in this retelling. What I can say is that I liked the story and I'm glad that this book ended well and is a stand alone.

Rating: 

"Novel Nails" is a feature of the blog that showcases nail art inspired by books and their covers. Nail art will be created by either Michelle or Nicole and will be featured alongside their reviews.

Finally! Another Novel Nails feature. I did this set a few weeks back and you can find it on my Tumblr in case anyone is interested. I'll place the links down below.

The cover was way too pretty to pass so I thought I'd do a set inspired by it. 

Nail polish used:
OPI Haven't the Foggiest
OPI Miss You-niverse

The pretty book.

I made a gradient using the purple and silver on three nails.

Close up of the hand drawn art. A raven, thorns and the gate (I have no idea what it is) on the cover.

Added a few jewels too.

The thumb.

Hope you like this set and if you want to check out my Instagram click HERE. For my Tumble, HERE.

                         

[BLOG TOUR] NICOLE'S REVIEW: The Polaris Uprising by Jennifer Ibarra

Title: The Polaris Uprising
Author: Jennifer Ibarra
Format Acquired: epub

Publication Date: October 20 2013

Publishing House: Tiwala Books

ISBN: 9780989499200
Source of Copy: Pinoy Book Tours

Summary:

No citizen shall be left behind.

Life in Neress is simple. For nearly four decades, people have known exactly what's expected of them. Obey the rules, follow the path that's been laid out, and everything will be provided for: food, shelter, education, safety. No need goes unmet.

But the cost is steep: you lose all rights to make your own choices in life.

In seven years, eighteen-year-old Ryla Jensen will come of age and take over for her father as president of this idyllic nation. Groomed since childhood to take on a role she's not even sure she wants, Ryla's only escape from the pressures of duty is her sister, Alanna. But when her eyes are finally opened to the oppressive regime her father built, she begins to question everything she's set to inherit - and finds herself at odds with her sister's blind allegiance to their father.

Torn between loyalty to her family and the fight for freedom, Ryla mut decide just how far she's willing to go to make a stand and risk losing the person she loves most in the world: Alanna.

(Image and information courtesy of Goodreads;)

Review:

In seven years Ryla will take her father's place as President of Neress. Until then, she's supposed to ready herself to ascend with meetings upon meetings and press conferences and lessons with her tutor. That is until she meets her tutor's son and he opens her eyes to the truth about their seemingly perfect society. No citizen shall be left behind. That could not be farther from the truth.

One thing I liked about The Polaris Uprising was the dynamic between Ryla and her sister Alanna. It was obvious that they could not be more different but their love for each other was obvious. Ryla was her father's chosen, the more outgoing of the two. Alanna, despite being the elder sister, was deemed unfit to succeed. It didn't seem to cause any strife between the two sisters but it was pretty obvious Alanna wondered why she wasn't worthy and yearned for her father's acceptance. Polaris Uprising is told in dual POV and it was interesting to get into their heads although I have to admit that I preferred Ryla. She was spunkier and more reckless.

Let's not forget the romance, Alanna was betrothed to Owen, son of the security minister. They've known each other since they were children and I found their romance rather boring.  I mean Owen was cute and rather charming but it just didn't work for me. They might be betrothed but Alanna was oh so lucky to actually feel something for her future husband. Ryla, on the other hand, fell for her tutor's son Tyson. Their romance was too fast and Tyson, despite being anti-government got over his prejudices fast stating that Ryla was different from other government cronies. 

I wasn't too fond of the pacing, everything just seemed to happen so fast. And I get that it's war and time is of the essence but left and right people were making snap judgments. Where was the strategic planning? And Ryla joining the rebellion? Done on a whim. Oh she saw her father's grievances against the people, saw the lies their precious Neress was built upon and bam! The rebellion got the President's daughter on board. Instant spy. It was messy and not well thought of, it lacked planning, but I suppose Ryla is still a teenager and bound to be a little rash. 

As for Alanna? She was quick to defend their father, unwilling to open her eyes like her sister. Maybe it was because she has always wanted her father's acceptance. Maybe she was too afraid. But she was quick to reprimand Ryla without hearing her through. (Why Ryla insists on keeping her father's secrets is beyond me). But I suppose it's all politics and it's not surprising at all that they ended up on opposite sides of a war with secrets left unsaid between them.

I'm okay with character death, I approve of it actually, but for this book? What was the point? (And no, I won't tell you guys who died.) Was it to push Ryla to finally choose a side to fight for? As if the death toll wasn't high enough.

The Polaris Uprising is all in all a good book. Decent characters, sufficient action, and a little romance to top it all of. I'd recommend it for those who want a quick dystopian read and I might read the next book. A little sibling rivalry is always interesting, especially when they're fighting a war on opposite ends. I especially can't help but think Alanna has always wanted to be President. But that's probably just me.

Rating:

LINK TO GIVEAWAY [PH ONLY]

                       

NICOLE'S REVIEW: Talker 25 by Joshua McCune

Title: Talker 25
Author: Joshua McCune
Format Acquired: eARC

Publication Date: April 22 2014

Publishing House: Greenwillow

ISBN: 9780062121912
Source of Copy: Edelweiss

Summary:

It's a high school prank gone horribly wrong - sneaking onto the rez to pose next to a sleeping dragon - and now senior Melissa Callahan has become an unsuspecting pawn in a war between Man and Monster, between family and friends and the dragons she has despised her whole life. Chilling, epic, and wholly original, this debut novel imagines a North America where dragons are kept on reservations, where strict blackout rules are obeyed no matter the cost, where the highly weaponized military operates in chilling secret, and where a gruesome television show called Kissing Dragons unites the population. Joshua McCune's debut novel offers action, adventure, fantasy, and a reimagining of popular dragon lore.

(Image and information courtesy of Goodreads; Summary lifted from actual book)

Review:

I really wanted to like this book because dragons, right? But try as I might I just couldn't get into it. I wasn't happy that it's been compared to Ann Aguirre's Outpost because that book is amazing. This just falls flat.

After sneaking into the dragon sanctuary and inadvertently catching the military's attention, Melissa finds herself an unwitting participant in the war between humans and dragons. This book is basically a war between humans and dragons. That is about as much as I could glean from it because it's all about who's on which side and a whole lot of dragon torture which is not amusing. 

The characters in Talker 25 are poorly crafted. Melissa is a crass, judgmental, insensitive and spiteful girl and I don't like her attitude at all. She flips off her dad, shames her brother in public and calls her friend a slut behind her back. From the very beginning, I knew she was going to be an issue. Add to that list the fact that she instantly swoons over a hot guy? I don't know why the dragons even bothered with her since apparently she's useless.

James, the hot guy, is as annoying as Melissa. Love at first sight? Yeah. I have nothing against that but the way it was executed here was just terrible. The romance served no purpose in the story and it just added fuel to the fire. He's a really terrible insurgent who throws temper tantrums and compromises the safety of his group by running off to mope when he's all sad and depressed. Not cool, James.

Also, where was the backstory? I don't understand how the dragons found their way to our world and apparently they don't know how that happened either. REALLY. Is this some sort of a cop-out? The dragons had no idea how they found humans? They were just dropped there? Out of the blue? They can't see the color black? What. Is. That. Where was the world-building? Someone please explain.

And the humans! Attack first negotiate later? I get that fear makes people act rashly, but having the government lash out at dragons when they haven't initiated anything? That deserves a massive face palm. And the torture scenes in this book were horrible and annoying because they were just cruel for the sake of being cruel. It's just unnecessary and unexplained hatred everywhere.

I also didn't get the role of the dragon fanatics or rebels because the dragons seemed to do okay on their own. And here comes these people who want to help them? By riding on their backs and talking to them in their heads. Ugh, if I were one of those dragons I wouldn't even bother.

Basically Talker 25 is about about dragons and dragon fanatics fighting the government and they all hate each other and try to one up the other. They also do reconditioning on humans and use them on their TV show. It's doesn't help that you've got a bratty heroine narrating the story and I wouldn't trust her with my life. If you want a dragon book I'd point you towards Seraphina by Rachel Hartman. 

Rating:

                        

NICOLE'S REVIEW + Novel Nails #8: Antigoddess by Kendare Blake

Title: Antigoddess
Author: Kendare Blake
Format Acquired: Hardcover

Publication Date: September 10 2013

Publishing House: Tor Teen

ISBN: 9780765334435
Source of Copy: Fully Booked

Summary:

Old gods never die...

Or so Athena thought. But then feathers started sprouting beneath her skin, invading her lungs like a strange cancer, and Hermes showed up with a fever eating away at his flesh. So much for living a quiet eternity in perpetual health.

Desperately seeking the cause of their slow miserable deaths, Athena and Hermes travel the world, gathering allies and discovering enemies both new and old. Their search leads them to Cassandra - an ordinary girl who was once an extraordinary prophetess, protected and loved by a god.

These days, Cassandra doesn't involve herself in the business of gods - in fact, she doesn't even know they exist. But she could be the key in a war that is only just beginning.

Because Hera, queen of the gods, has aligned herself with others of the ancient Olympians, who are killing off rivals in an attempt to prolong their own lives. But these antigods have become corrupted in their desperation to survive, horrific caricatures of their former glory. Athena will need every advantage she can get because immortals don't just flicker out.

Every one of them dies in their own way. Some choke on feathers. Others become monsters. All of them rage against their last breath.

The Goddess War is about to begin.

(Image and information courtesy of Goodreads; Summary lifted from actual book)

Review:

Antigoddess is not your typical gods-and-humans story and among all the books that I've read that take from Greek mythology, this is easily my favorite.

The gods are dying slow, horrible deaths. The pantheon has divided themselves once again and are waging war on the both sides. Caught in the middle is Cassandra, reincarnation of the Greek prophetess that Apollo oh so loved. She just doesn't know it yet. So when her dreams and visions start getting bloodier and there's a strange sense of foreboding thrumming through her veins Cassandra knows that something bad is about to happen. The dying gods believe that she is the key to their survival and they will do anything, kill anyone to get to her.

I've been a fan of Kendare Blake books ever since she broke my heart and scared me to death with Anna Dressed in Blood and Girl of Nightmares. So there was no second-guessing about whether or not I should give Antigoddess a go. 

The author does well in portraying the Greek gods and goddesses. They're selfish and destructive and stubborn to a fault. The fact that they have all these powerful abilities that they use to further their cause - which usually involves a whole lot of death and destruction - makes them near impossible to contend with. 

I wasn't exactly fond of the characters except maybe Aidan and Hermes. Cassandra is, I'm not sure how to describe it, but she's distant at best. I felt like I didn't really get to connect with her and enjoy her as a character but somehow I was totally okay with that. 

Athena on the other hand I did like. She's everything you'd expect from the goddess of wisdom and warfare - strong, capable and ruthless. But as the story progressed, like Hera and her cronies, Athena is afraid to die and she's not going to take her death simpering like a damsel in distress. But I got to this point in the story where, after a certain incident involving Cassandra, I got pissed at her. I mean, there she goes again doing whatever she wants, what she thinks is right and damn all the consequences. I kind of wished everyone would just leave Cassandra alone but then where's the fun in that right?

I just loved the mood of the story and paired with Blake's vivid explanations of the gods' slow deaths, well that made for a pretty creepy read. Desperate gods and a reincarnated prophetess on the brink of war? Bring it on. Although I have to say that the ending was pretty painful and if I didn't love my copy of Antigoddess so much I would have tossed it against the wall while simultaneously bawling my tiny eyes out. I am definitely looking forward to the next book. 

Rating:

"Novel Nails" is a feature of the blog that showcases nail art inspired by books and their covers. Nail art will be created by either Michelle or Nicole and will be featured alongside their reviews.

It's Nicole again for Novel Nails this week featuring Antigoddess. As you can see I drew feathers on my nail using a striper and I'm all matchy-matchy with the book cover.

The nail polish I used are as follows:

Base: OPI Incognito in Sausalito 

Feathers: Orly White Tips

I glued the tiny rhinestones using clear polish.

Antigoddess next to OPI.

Close up of my nails.

Another close up!

I match with the book. Pretty!

So what do you guys think? Feathers - yay or nay?